Thursday, July 28, 2011

1.) A moment your realized your child was growing up.2.) Amy Winehouse died. Another name amidst a growing list of talented celebrities lost to addiction. Your reaction.3.) What do you miss most about the school year?4.) Share a favorite craft or game that will keep your kids busy for at least 20 minutes.5.) Write a post where the first and last sentence contain any form of the word “boss.”

Monday, my boss took me and the other trainers to dinner at Northwoods Inn. It is one of my favorite places to eat and a great place to go for celebrations and we were celebrating my birthday and my retirement.

On the previous Thursday, in our management meeting I was given a party and presented with retirement gifts. We talked about what the Center was like in the early days, and we reminisced about all of the good times and a lot of the folks said some nice things about me too. I trained many of them when they first came to work at the Phone Bank.

I have worked with many of these folks for over 25 years and I will miss not seeing them everyday, but I won't miss the work. I have seen many of them grow into the positions they hold now and that includes the young man who, started as a phone banker and now holds the position of my boss!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿ I heard something interesting on the radio on the way to work this morning about Amy Winehouse. Now I can’t say I am a fan of Amy Winehouse, I have only heard her music in the last few days and she did have an amazing voice.

The only reason I knew her name is because of entertainment stories of her significant drug use. She seemed destined to meet an unhappy end. However, she joined an interesting group of musicians who died at the age of 27, sometimes called the 27 club or the Curse of the 27. It includes Brian Jones, Jimi Hendriks, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain, all names I remember or recognize. According to Wikipedia, there are 40 more whose names I don’t recognize so much, that have died at 27 since 1908. The causes of death can best be described, as they did for Brian Jones, as”death by misadventure.” It is an amazing phenomenon.
These talents definitely died too young.

My DD2 thinks that 27 is a significant time in a young person’s life. At least for her, she claims that her whole outlook on life changed about the time she was 27 years old. When I think about it my life changed a lot in my mid 20’s as well. That was when Mr BC and I started our family. So DD2 may have a point about 27 being a significant milestone in a young person’s life.

Monday, July 25, 2011

﻿﻿ It's my Birthday and there is no crying around here. 64 years and no more Mondays after this....at least for work. Now it is one more Friday! I am being taken out to dinner by my boss and my work team tonite for birthday and retirement. More to come.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

﻿ ﻿﻿ Mr Bankerchick is still in MO today but he leaves for California tomorrow
morning. The next trip will be the week of August 22 to take the MGTF
back along with a few boxes of things we plan to move back there. We aquired this house when Mr BC's mom passed away in Feb. of 2010. She left the property in trust for us. His sister and her husband were living with her when she passed as she was in poor health.

They moved back to their own home in December and it has been sitting empty all winter, except for Mr BC's quarterly visits to check on things and move auto's back. It is completely furnished so we are not going to bring a lot of stuff back. We are leaving the appliances, getting rid of a king-sized bed (old) selling the dining room table. Mainly taking our clothes, some kitchen stuff, bedroom furniture, office furniture and other things that are important to us after 40 something years of marriage. Lots of things going to Salvation Army and many of our belongings are worn but still in good shape.

It is a small and cottage-like, with a rock facade. His folks put in the garage addition at the back including a second bath and a utility room several years ago. The downstairs has the one bedroom. The upstairs is the size and footprint of the downstairs and completely open. So essentially it is 2 bedrooms, 2 bath. We have many plans and upgrades for it when we finally sell here in CA. It will be a great retirement project for us.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Yellow is the Color of My True Love's Hair. Yes Mr Bankerchick, is was a brunette, however for the past 2 and 1/2 years there is another True Love. It was love at first sight, even though it was not yellow at first sight. Лука looks so much like his dad through the eyes and by his mannerisms, that it is sometime hard to see DD1in him, but, because of his bright blond hair and blue eyes, you know he is his mother's child too. Especially in profile, and with his smile and dimple I see DD1.

﻿﻿

They have the same coloring, mouth, blue eyes and dimple on the left side of their face.

﻿﻿

Since he was one year old and younger he was a towhead

Even in late afternoon with Grandpa Bankerchick he is blond

These were the waves before his haircut

And this is all the love you need in the world

This is the cheek where the dimple resides and his hair cut makes him look like a big boy

1.) The simple things…2.) Write an entry inspired by the word: Yellow.3.) A memorable sporting event.4.) Sex education! How old were you when you learned about the birds and the bees? Who taught you? Describe that experience.5.) This month the theme of Oprah’s magazine is intuition…write about a time your instincts were wrong.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Well that is; Mr Bankerchick is on the Road. He left Wednesday, for a fast trip to Missouri. He is taking his '72 MGB to the homestead. We have three of these trips to make to just to get his classic cars back there. It will probably take 6 months to 'move' the Bankerchicks, also we eventually have to sell the California property to finalize this move.
This trip is to move the car and to get an estimate for fencing in the rest of the yard, for the puppies. When, we actually get the fence in might be problematic for us as contractors are very busy with re-building of the city of Joplin. We shall see.
The next trip we will be moving the MGTF and some boxes of stuff and I get to go as I will be officially retired. We are going to take the puppies and stay for a couple of weeks to, hopefully have the yard fenced! I am glad to be going to be able to help Mr BC drive. He has been making all of his trips to MO alone, and I am always worried about him driving alone. He had a flat tire on the cargo trailor this trip. But he arrived tired but fine, yesterday.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

This weeks writing prompt is: Share a joke that always makes you laugh. I never tell jokes because I can't remember them and this has been true since before I got old. A lot of OLD jokes have been filling up my e-mails lately and they are funny.....sometimes.....Here are the ones that make me laugh.

You know you are old when:

Going braless pulls all the wrinkles out of your face.

"Getting a little action" means I don't need to take any fiber today

Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the guys with the Live Doppler 10,000.

In a hostage situation, you are likely to be released first.

You know you're a grown-up because you groan every time you get up.

It takes a couple of tries to get over a speed bump.

It's harder and harder for sexual harassment charges to stick.

Many of your co-workers were born the same year that you got your last promotion.

No one expects you to run into a burning building.

The twinkle in your eye is only the reflection of the sun on your bifocals.

There's nothing left to learn the hard way.

Things you buy now won't wear out.

When getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot.

When happy hour is a nap.

When you have a choice of two temptations and you choose the one that will get you home earlier.

When you realize that caution is the only thing you care to exercise.

You finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart

You and your teeth don't sleep together.

At the breakfast table you hear snap, crackle, pop and you're not eating cereal.

AND THEN THERE IS THIS ONE.

Some 15 year old girlfriends decided to meet for dinner. They discussed where to eat and finally agreed on McDonald's next to the Sea Side Restaurant because they only had $6.50 between them and Bobby Bruce, the cute boy in science class, lived on that street.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 25-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because it had free snacks, there was no cover charge, the beer was cheap, the band was good and there were lots of cute guys.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 35-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because the combos were good, it was near the gym and if they went late enough, there wouldn't be many whiny little kids.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 45-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because the martinis were big and the waiters wore tight pants and had nice buns.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 55-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because the prices were reasonable, it had widows which opened (in case of hot flashes), the wine list was good and fish was good for their cholesterol.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 65-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because they had an Early Bird Special and the lighting was good.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 75-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because the food wasn't too spicy and it was handicapped accessible.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 85-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because they'd never been there before.

1.) Write about a time you had to crawl through a window. (inspired by Barb from Half Past Kissin’ Time)2.) List of 10 shows you’re glad have seen their last day.3.) A bad day.4.) Share a joke that always makes you laugh.5.) On a piece of paper write down something that makes you happy…take a photo of your paper and wa la…there’s your post.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Well retirement is looming on the horizon. I have started to have anxiety dreams about it. I am trying not to go into short-timer mode, I have to admit that I sometimes say "Screw it, I don't have to do that anymore." However, I am in the middle of my last class and have to have these folks ready to move on.
My most common dream is I am at home, sometimes the kids are little, sometimes I am just watching TV, it is afternoon and I realize I should be at work and I haven't let my boss know that I am not coming in and I don't have a good excuse for not being there. I try to call and I can't dial the number, or I or the phone doesn't work. The one I had this weekend, I actually got hold of my boss and he said ominously "I know what this is all about." I had the impression I would be fired since I didn't come in.....Oh my!
I went to Santa Barbara this weekend to see the grandson after about a month, and of course, he has turned into a different kid. He is a solid little boy and looks like he is 3 or 4 instead of 2 and a half, and goodness he can talk; in two languages even. He sure loves his gamma and grandpa. It was a real boost to see him after 3 weeks of being sick. We always have to leave early on Sundays to beat the traffic and I miss him the minute we get on the freeway. I look forward to coming up in the middle of the week and staying an extra day if I want. And especially not having to call the boss about not coming into work.

Saturday, July 02, 2011

I recently completed a group read over at The Duchess of Devonshire's Gossip Guide of Evelina, it is a novel written by English author Frances Burney and first published in 1778. My stalking of Jane Austen this year has sent me to all things 18th Century, and the Gossip Guide.
I was aware from my reading of Jane Austen's memoirs and biographies that Fanny Burney had some influence on JA. It was subscribed to, by her family and her books are referred to in her letters. I wrote a little about the relationship here.
Evelina was written in the form of letters primarily to her foster father, the Reverend, Mr Villars but also to other characters in the book. She was an orphan of dubious heritage, raised lovingly and sheltered by Mr Villars.When she is seventeen, he is convinced by Lady Howard to let her visit her at Howard Grove. That visit ultimately leads her on a journey to London and the seaside near Bristol, growth and romance. This is a sentimental example of early romanticism, definitely not a bodice-ripper. Her adventures lead her ultimately to that happy ending.
This is not Jane Austen, While a good writer, Burney was limited in her characterizations by the viewpoint of the letters of Evelina. You are looking at life through the eyes and sensibilities of a seventeen year old. You also have to look at this book as historical satire. Many of the absurd characters and situations were somewhat overblown and seemed contrived. Evelina is embarrassed by Captain Mirvan and Madam Duval. Her new found relatives are social-climbing boors. and the hero Lord Orville bears little resemblance to Mr Darcy or Captain Wentworth, except in Evelina's eyes.
The story is compelling and by book two, I was hooked. I tried to stay to the timeline of the group read, but found myself reading ahead to see what happens next. There are several plot twists, a young man who tries to commit suicide, a seeming uncaring birth father, a repugnant French grandmother, and may other cads, fops and ne'er-do-wells. It is not a hard read, especially if you are familiar with literature of the time period. Gossip Guide has a review of an audio version you can down load here.
I liked the book, and plan to read more of Fanny Burney.